How do flies spread disease?

After a nasty experience overseas with flies crawling all over food, I ask myself, how do flies actually spread disease? We all kind of know this and spend our time shooing flies off food and drinks.

This is what I love about writing a blog, it gives me the opportunity to research a wide range of topics. I am researching this after another nasty bout of gastroenteritis; had attended a Balinese wedding where the flies had to been seen to be believed. It was like we were in a tent designed to keep the flies in with the flies contacting everything.

So my research tells me flies collect pathogens on both their legs and mouths carrying the diseases on the small hairs or bristles on their legs and bodies. So the next question is, what is a pathogen? A pathogen is an infectious agent that may also be described as a biological agent causing disease and illness.

We have all seen flies land on objects and rub their rear legs together so this makes sense. By rubbing its legs together, the fly is able to scrape of some of the material that has gathered on its bristles contaminating the area it has just landed on.

The diseases they carry include typhoid, cholera and dysentery - all diseases that will mess you up big time. More diseases, such as salmonella, anthrax and tuberculosis are carried by flies - but I'm guessing these diseases are less likely. Flies feed on feces and as were on a Balinese farm, they had a rich food source as the farm was unclean, you could smell it.

The farm really reeked of the foul stench of animal faces so I'm guessing they were not big on cleaning the animal stalls. The local population seemed none too bothered by all this and with all the rubbish including plastic around the area were not big on hygiene at all. I don't want to be a rich westerner looking down at poor people in developing nations; you can be poor and work hard to clean up where you live.

Due to their sponge type mouths, flies feed on liquids requiring them to liquefy their food through regurgitation. Flies eat by throwing up their stomach contents on their food source with the digestive juices breaking the solid matter into smaller chunks. Flies then use their proboscis to recover the stomach contents by drinking the digestive juices and dissolved food source.

Fortunately, despite the feeling of wanting to continually vomit and crap your pants with explosive diarrhea, the effects seem to wear off after a couple of days although diarrhea and dysentary is a leading cause of deaths in developing countries. In my case it wrecked Christmas day and a three-day trip to Rottnest Island on my return home.

What is Femen all about?

Known as feminist street outrage group, Femen are receiving plenty of media coverage with their topless protests. Going topless in public isn't a new strategy for femen, this has been their their strategy for a while now.

So some research as required, they are a radical Ukrainian protesting against the sexual exploitation of women. Apparently they began protesting the sex tourism trade in the country with their slogan 'Ukraine is not a brothel' advocating against the legalisation of prostitution when moves were instigated to legalise prostitution prior to the 2012 Euro 12 championships.

The origins of the group seem to date back to 2008 when Ukraine was engulfed in the post-Soviet collapse mobster economy where public were sold off for minimal amounts described as necrocapitalism destroying the base of the society as infrastructure collapsed.

One suspects many women were forced into prostitution to feed families, but really I'm just speculating here. Their current round of protests seem to revolve around an anti-Islam context and their treatment of women so let's see where that goes.

It's Christmas day

It’s Christmas day and I’m on a flight home, my pre-Christmas break is over and I'm on a morning flight back to Perth.

I’m going straight from the airport to the family lunch after spending the week before Christmas in Bali. The majority is heading in the other direction, Bali is now in peak season and I am glad to be out. I prefer the lead up to the peak, every day more people are arriving.

The first part of the week was spent in Ubud staying in the Batu Empug Cottages before heading down to Kuta for a couple of days staying the the Jayakarta Hotel. Sure Ubud is quiet, but that is exactly what I wanted and the pace did pick up in Kuta somewhat. My Christmas Day is going to be pretty good, I hope everyone has a great day, a merry Christmas to all.

GrabTaxi - the mobile app for taxi drivers

When I first came across Grab Taxi in the Philippines, taxi drivers were using this popular app to book rides increasing their clientele base. For 40 pesos, you could book a taxi from your smartphone guaranteeing yourself a ride. I have always found the Grab drivers very polite and helpful, I couldn't say the same about Manila taxi drivers who were always trying to scam you.

On subsequent trips to the Philippines, Grab has expanded to private ride sharing utilising mostly part-time drivers. This has greatly expanded the reach of Grab and become a rival to Uber. I have never seen Uber operating in the Philippines; but since I have never supported this business, I have not sought them out either.

The first thing I noticed was the quality of the private vehicles that Grab offers, Manila cabs are pretty run down and the drivers take every opportunity to take advantage of a foreigner, the locals don't fare much better either. Grab has fixed rates that are very competitive, you are set the rate before departure so no chance to go the long way or driving in circles exists.

My preference is now Grab, I no longer have fights with taxi drivers unwilling to turn the meter on and quoting, I mean demanding outrageous fixed fares. Nor do I have drivers tell me it is too busy and they won't drive me to my destination citing heavy traffic. Taxis still get paid by the kilometer and have a charge for sitting in traffic so they don't lose. If Manila taxi drivers provided a better service then I would be happy to support them.

I refuse to use Uber in Perth because they have devestated the livelihoods of the taxi industry who were required to purchase highly expensive licenses from the state government to operate. The taxi board run by the state government limited taxi licences keeping prices high ensuring the inflation of taxi costs in a manner that only a government department could design.

These parameters defy the basic economic principles of supply and demand and they certainly don't create productivity increases or efficiencies. Grab on the other hand worked together with existing taxi drivers increasing their revenue and service so I am more than happy to support this business.

Bali just before Christmas

As Jetstar flight JQ110 descends into Ngurah Rai International Airport I can sense the excitement building, there was lots of kids on this flight and their energy was evident. I look out the window to see waves breaking on Kuta Beach with boats lined up on the reef.

I have dubbed the flight to Bali from Perth the Bali bogan flight, this morning wasn't the case, this was a good flight. Young families with kids was this clientele, there was no excessive alcohol consumption, no loud swearing, no loutish behavior and no abuse of airline staff.

Sure, there was a passage of flight where every young child was crying and a few screaming. Parents were scrambling to to quieter children, keep them occupied and calm. I don't mind that, parents are doing their best, children are unpredictable it doesn't last forever - kids are kids.

This trip started off well, I think it will be a fun and relaxing time. Being in Bali with families is better than the drunken louts fighting, arguing and generally making a nuisance of themselves. It also helps I will be heading up to Ubud for six days, I am expecting couples and families with kids, a nice time.

The Bali bogan flight

From Perth, Bali is a short three and a half hour flight attracting plenty of budget conscious tourists ready to hit the nightlife of this party island. Unfortunately, the budget flights also attract plenty of bogans who tend to embarrass themselves and the country in general.

So what is a bogan? The general definition of a bogan is a poorly educated individual, usually hailing from a low socio-economic background and acts in an uncultured manner. Being poor doesn't necessarily relagate a person to a lifetime of a bogan status; there are plenty of poor people who act in a demure manner. Americans might better relate to the term redneck, hillbilly or hick for what we Australians refer to as a bogan.

I normally take about five international flights per year so while I don't really qualify as a frequent flyer, I take enough flights to know what is acceptable behaviour on an aircraft. Bali flights tend to be very relaxed which is good, people are happy and excited and there are plenty of families which most would think is a good thing.

The downside is the families allow their kids to run riot, the self-obsessed generation only caring for themselves tend to ruin the whole flying experience for others. For me, the countdown is on; the three and a half hours of getting my seat back kicked, the yelling, screaming, swearing and farting soon gives way to short holiday bliss lounging around on a poolside deckchair. But hey, I'm on that flight too so I'm as bogan as the next guy.

Silly bike laws

I'm all for improving the infrastructure for bicycle riding in Perth but we also need a dose of reality, the new proposed laws up for review in regards to cyclists are totally absurd - it really makes your head spin.

The bike lobby is strong yielding considerable political influence yet this doesn't prevent poorly conceived ideas may actually pass into law. The first proposal for the vehicle driver to be in the wrong by default. In any accident goes against current laws where the accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This proposal seeks to totally bypass the justice system in what may be considered unconstitutional.

Naturally the bike lobby wants vehicle drivers to be guilty by default; bike riders are not registered, do not carry any identification on their bikes in the form of registration plates and are uninsured. Every vehicle on the road must be registered carrying compulsary third party motor vehicle insurance that is automatically deducted from the vehicle registration fee.

Furthermore, vehicle drivers must be licenced whereas bike riders do not. This is easy money for bike riders to tap into, they do not contribute in the form of payments to the insurance pool. But wait they argue, they already pay vehicle registration and by default third party insurance. But investigating further we see that each driver must be licenced and each vehicle registered meaning third party motor vehicle insurance is paid on each vehicle.

Then there is the proposal that bicycles are allowed to ride through red traffic signals, the absurdity now reaches a climax. By virtue of how traffic lights work, if you are sitting at a red light then a reasonable person may conclude that the traffic going the other way is on a green traffic signal. But don't be concerned as the bike lobby has this apparently organised.

Should you be struck by a vehicle and you survive the crash without dying, then the vehicle involved in the crash is guilty by default despite driving through a green traffic light. Now I used the term crash and not accident because an accident is considered a freak occurrence. I ride a bike and there is no way I would even consider riding through a red light under any circumstances - absolute lunacy.

So where to from here? Should bicycles be allowed on the road? Absolutely they should but we have to follow established road rules and principles. Such action leads to arrogance and unintended consequences and we need responsible riding and driving, we use the roads together and need to respect each other.